Doug Pederson and Nick Foles share how their bond was formed before 2012 draft

Eagles coach Doug Pederson never wavered when he was asked about Nick Foles being able to step in and guide the team after Carson Wentz was lost to a torn ACL in Week 14. Pederson even insisted the playbook would remain the same even with Foles leading the offense, a claim that sounded dubious at the time.

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The NFC Championship Game was another example of how regardless of who was under center, Pederson was going to execute his aggressive game plan. Pederson’s message to Foles was clear: “Just go be Nick.”

The two celebrated together after Foles finished off one of the best performances by a quarterback in Eagles postseason history. Foles completed 26 of 32 pass attempts for 352 yards and three touchdowns in Philadelphia’s 38-7 domination of the Vikings.

Pederson and Foles’ relationship goes back to before Foles was selected in the third round (No. 88 overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. Foles reflected on how Pederson, who was the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach under Andy Reid back then, pursued him during the process leading up to the draft.

“Coach Pederson is the one who drafted me. He was the only coach who flew down to Texas and worked me out,” Foles said after the NFC Championship Game. “I was only worked out by one team, and that was by Coach Pederson. Coach Reid and the Philadelphia Eagles took a chance on me. To win this game for him and this organization is something very special.”

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As a former quarterback, Pederson was able to really dig in and get to know Foles during the pre-draft visit. Because he was the only coach to visit Foles, there was plenty of individual time to see what Foles brought to the table.

(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

“He reminded me after the game last night that I was the only coach to go work him out as a player,” Pederson said during his Monday press conference. “It goes a long way to his confidence and my confidence in him. To be able to separate and come back together now and do the things that we’ve been able to do is a credit to him.”

Now Pederson, Foles and the Eagles will turn their focus to Bill Belichick and the Patriots in Super Bowl LII.

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